Community News
Teams gear up all year for annual Relay event
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Neosho County Relay for Life is just around the corner and teams have been working for nearly a year to raise money for the cause. A wide variety of fundraisers have been held, with teams beginning new traditions and continuing longtime activities to meet goals set for this season. The overnight Relay for Life will be held at Neosho County Community College from Friday beginning at 6 p.m. through Saturday ...
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Lil’ Toledo hosts Women on Target
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Lil’ Toledo Lodge hosted the eighth annual Women on Target: Shooting Skills for Women on Saturday, bringing in women to learn more about firearm safety and skills in a more comfortable atmosphere than that of a Hunter Education or shooting course. The program is a National Rifle Association-funded event through the Women on Target program held by the Kansas Wildlife Conservation Association and is a Region...
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Herman R. Honas 1932-2011
Herman Honas, 79, Chanute, died Saturday, June 4, 2011 at his residence. Herman was born at Ransom on Jan. 17, 1932, the son of John and Frances Weber Honas. He graduated from Pittsburg State University. He was united in marriage to Flo Dinkel on June 20, 1955 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Herman worked at Montgomery Ward in Chanute for 16 years. After that he started his own business, Chanute T.V. and bus station for 40 years. He...
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Warren H. Fitch 1922-2011
Warren Hampton Fitch, 89, Chanute, died Friday, June 3, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Warren was born at Waverly on Jan. 30, 1922, the son of Lloyd and Marguerite Gisin Fitch. He graduated from Waverly High School in 1940. Warren served his country in Company L, 2nd Marines, 2nd Division during WWII. He was united in marriage to Martha L. Peters on Dec. 21, 1947 in Fredonia. He was a materials inspector for t...
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Long commitment to community ends
Tribune staff Warren Hampton Fitch served in many ways, in the military, and in his 64 years as a member of the community He died at age 89 on Friday at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. After graduating from Waverly High School in 1940, on August 14, 1941, he entered the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Coincidentally, World War II ended on August 14, 1945 on VJ Day (Victory in Japan) and his son Warren, Jr., was born that same day....
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Thayer council member serves city from Kuwait
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter One member of the Thayer City Council has to wake up at 4 a.m. for the meetings. Sgt. William Vining is in the Army National Guard and is currently serving overseas in Kuwait. He works in operations and he said that his job allows him to take part in the city council meetings back home, which with the time difference are typically very early in the morning in Kuwait. For Sgt. Vining, it is a way to stay connect...
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Youth, elderly share planting project
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Heritage Healthcare residents helped plant the seed of gardening for children from Brighter Beginnings Daycare on Thursday. As a part of an intergenerational program with the Chanute Community Foundation, Heritage residents assisted the daycare children in planting vegetables in the community garden on South Ashby. The project was set up as a way for children to work with the residents on various projects...
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Reality TV shows hit home — Chanute connections to Top Shot and The Deadliest Catch
Stu Butcher Tribune Editor Plenty of reality shows have flooded the airwaves and at least two have a Chanute connection. The upcoming Season 3 of Top Shot on the History Channel will include Chris Collins in the 16-member cast. Collins, who resides in Owasso, Okla., is a former U.S. Marine and firearms instructor. “The more pressure I’m under, the better I shoot,” Collins said on the Top Shot website. The chosen 16 will compete in a series of ...
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Original museum part of Safari’s 50th fete
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Looking for red carpet treatment? Then planning on attending the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum gala on June 11 in celebration of the museum’s 50th anniversary. The whole day will be an event for the museum, starting with an open house and a re-dedication ceremony during the day before the gala in the evening. Members of the community are invited to tour the museum as well as hear stories from one of...
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LaDonna S. Journot McPurdy 1942-2011
LaDonna S. Journot McPurdy, 68, Joplin, Mo., formerly of Parsons, went home to be with her Lord Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin from injuries sustained in the tornado. She was born Oct. 6, 1942 in Parsons, to Frank and Myrtle Johnston Journot. She grew up in Parsons where she attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. Following high school graduation, ...
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Jason W. Adams 1987-2011
Jason W. Adams, 23, Cave Springs, Ark., died Sunday, May 29, 2011.  He was born in Rogers, Ark., on June 3, 1987, the son of Chris and Tamie Logsdon Adams. He loved the outdoors and activities such as hunting, fishing.  Jason enjoyed most of all hanging out with family, friends and loyal dog, Sissy. He graduated from Bentonville High School and attended Nashville-Auto Diesel College. Jason is survived by his wife, Jeri Dawn Adams, Bentonville;...
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Helen C. Blankenship 1926-2011
Helen C. Blankenship, 85, Fall River, died Thursday, June 2, 2011 at her home. Helen was born on April 26, 1926 in Alma, the daughter of George William and Laura Ann Schreiber Thowe. On Nov. 29, 1959, in Wichita, Helen married Jack R. Blankenship, He survives, of the home. Helen worked on her farm with her husband Jack, working in the fields and taking care of livestock. She was a member of the Fall River United Methodist Church. Also survivin...
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Warren Hampton Fitch
Warren Hampton Fitch, 89, Chanute, died Friday, June 3, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday June 7 at the First United Methodist Church in Chanute. The family will receive friends on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel. Memorials in his name may be made to the United Methodist Church in Chanute and may be left with the funeral home. To leave a special message for...
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Virtha Lois Gilmore Moon-Padgett 1919-2311
Virtha Lois Gilmore Moon-Padgett, 91, Coffeyville, died Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 17, 1919 in Chanute, to John and Virtha Scantlin Gilmore. She grew up in the Chanute area, attending Neosho County Little Friend School and graduated from Chanute High School. She joined the Navy WAVES. She married Earnest L. Moon on Feb. 9, 1947 in Urbana. He preceded her in death in October 1966. She later...
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Sen. Roberts pays visit to Ash Grove
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter Senator Pat Roberts. R-Kan., visited the Ash Grove cement plant in Chanute Thursday morning in order to see the grounds and field questions from the employees. “I appreciate what you all do, working hard to give us a product that is absolutely valuable to our infrastructure and progress of this country. Thank you for the work you do,” Sen. Roberts said. He toured the ground and briefly talked about the nati...
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Summer, Tropical Sno popular mix
Marilynn Rutledge Tribune Reporter Every summer, Tropical Sno opens its booth in the Chanute Square off of Santa Fe. And every summer, new flavor creations, bizarre colors and names, and the summer weather has people flocking to the location for their favorite sno cone treat. For the past four years, Tropical Sno has been owned by Chris and Tara Bilby. The Bilbys run the business, hiring around two to three employees and working behind the ...
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Thayer Amateur Hour kicks off Saturday
THAYER — The Thayer Amateur Hour will be starting its 76th year on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the park, West on Neosho. The event will continue each Saturday until Labor Day. On Saturday free hot dogs and drinks will be provided by the Thayer Booster Club and the First State Bank of Thayer. When the amateur hour was first started, the younger kids who sang were given a free ice cream cone at the drug store. The tradition has been brought back w...
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Couple still digging out of Joplin’s rubble
Kathleen Carney Tribune Reporter The deadly EF 5 tornado that hit Joplin on May 22 came only one week after Frank and Bernita Schul moved there from Chanute. Frank, 72, and Bernita, 68, dug their way out of their new home that night, and managed to make it to safety with only minor scratches and bruises. But the Schuls lost everything. “The sirens went off once and then they shut down,” said Frank. “They went off again, and I told my wife ...
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Johnny E. Leroy, Jr. 1933-2011
Johnny E. Leroy, Jr., 77, Chanute, died Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at his residence in Chanute. Johnny was born in Chanute on Sept. 19, 1933, the son of Johnny and Pearl Morehead Leroy. He graduated from Chanute High School. He was married to Ruth Ross of Iola for many years. They later divorced. He was a great athlete growing up and played many sports including baseball, football, basketball, and boxing. He had his pilots license and loved to fly,...
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Quenton’s fundraiser nets $1,500 plus
The fundraiser for Joplin’s tornado victims instigated by six-year-old Quenton Deaver of Chanute totaled $1,500 in cash along with other purchased goods and donated items. Once Joplin put a halt to accepting clothing, Quenton’s mother, Kristina Deaver, and volunteers rounded up the piles of clothes and organized a clothing sale at Central Park Pavilion Thursday and Friday. With the help of donations from Chanute residents, Deaver reported sh...
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